We picked Charleston for our a brief interlude on our journey south for two reasons. First, our visit here in June was wonderful. And second, because we get to hang out again with our friends, the Argabrights. We arrived in town at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning, and after getting caught up on sleep, our friends picked us up at the marina and took us to their home for pizza and the opportunity to watch our Georgia Bulldogs on their 70″ big-screen TV (which made me a little homesick for the theater room in our former house which boasted a 108″ screen). The pizza was great and the Dawgs won. What more could a person ask for?

Large numbers of Monarch butterflies at the marina

Heaven. That’s what Sunday morning was like. Cindy and I took the free resort/marina trolley to downtown Charleston for the 10:30 worship service at St. Phillip’s Church. I was so deeply affected by all the beauty that I must have spent half the service in tears. From the opening introit sung by the choir to the magnificent edifice with its arched ceilings and Corinthian columns, and from the challenging message to the choir’s performance of Handel’s “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs” from the Messiah, throughout the liturgy I was translated to some other-worldy place. Gratefully, that feeling has lingered throughout the past few days. After enjoying Sunday lunch at the Rutlege Avenue Cab Company with the Argabrights, the rest of the day was spent aboard Beatitude.

A building in Charleston’s French Quarter

St. Phillip’s Church, The Mother Church of the Diocese of South Carolina, established in 1680. The present building dates to 1835.

The beautiful interior of St. Phillips

The old graveyard at St. Phillips, which contains the remains of John C. Calhoun and Charles Pinkney

Graveyard sign at St. Phillips

Selfie after church on Sunday, sitting on a bench waiting to be picked up for lunch

One of the many horse-drawn carriage tours in Charleston.

Lunch at the Rutledge Cab Company

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, we rented a car to do some errand-running. We’re beginning to think of all the things we need to do before we leave the country again. When we depart this time (which could be less than a month away), we may not be returning for several years. We’re trying to prepare Beatitude for an extended stay away from the United States and to purchase the equipment that we need to safely navigate to all the places we’d like to visit. The task is a little daunting, but very exciting at the same time.

Apples in Sweetgrass basket we bought at the Charleston City Market

Cindy with Ashley, who made the sweetgrass basket we bought. She learned the skill from her grandmother.

The boardwalk at the Charleston Harbor Marina. The U.S.S. Yorktown and the Arthur Ravenel Bridge in the distance

On Tuesday, the 20th, Cindy and I celebrated our 36th wedding Anniversary at a wonderful restaurant in downtown Charleston called the Peninsula Grill where we enjoyed delicious steak and an amazing coconut cake for dessert. One year ago, we celebrated at a French Restaurant in Coral Gables as we were preparing to cross the gulf stream into the Bahamas. My, does time fly!

Ready for our Anniversary Dinner

36th Anniversay dinner at the Peninsula Grill

My lovely bride of 36 years.

Happy Anniversary!

The best coconut cake in the world at Peninsula Grill. Bobby Flay calls it the best dessert he’s ever eaten. It was amazing!

On Wednesday, while traveling down to the Yanmar Dealer on Wadmalaw Island to pick up some spare engine parts, we made a return visit to the Irvin House Vineyards and Firefly Distillery for some wine and spirits tasting. It was nice to mix a little pleasure with business.

Cindy has her shine on at the Firefly Distillery

A bunny at the distillery